Ninety-nine percent of this book consists of my father’s own words, and a similar proportion of the cartoons, maps and pictures contained herein, he himself either clipped from his issues of Stars and Stripes and Yank Magazine, or he snapped with a buddy’s camera. Dad was an excellent writer - concise, entertaining, informative. As a radio operator in a half-track squad of the Radio Section of HQ and HQ Company of the 12th Infantry Regiment, Fourth Infantry ("Ivy") Division, Ralph’s very personal account offers a unique perspective of the War.
However, as Dad wrote more than once, he knew little about the "big picture" or grand strategy of the war. He hardly knew where he was or where he had been, let alone where he was going or the reasons behind any of it. That is why he kept a diary, and when he had the chance, "liberated" kids’ geography books along the way and devoured every military news sheet he could find, in an attempt to piece together what he could of his whereabouts and movements.
Ralph spent the years between 1945 and 1950 entering his war memories and memorabilia into a single volume. That album crumbled and frayed badly with much handling over the ensuing twenty years. In 1972, he painstakingly transferred his narrative and other items into two, better quality volumes.
Inevitably, Dad’s limited view of things resulted in some gaps in the military picture. To remedy this, I have inserted at strategic points in the book supplementary information, maps and photos intended to provide the reader with some clarifying context and background for Dad’s very personal stories.
It has proved a challenging task to provide what I hope is helpful context and commentary, and, at the same time, ensure that my father’s own eloquent voice remains clear and dominant. The reader will have to judge as to how well - or even whether - I succeeded.
